Core Viewpoint - The technology gap between South Korea and China in key scientific fields is widening, with China surpassing South Korea in the secondary battery technology, which was previously the only area where South Korea maintained a lead [2][4]. Group 1: Technology Assessment - According to the draft report submitted by South Korea's Ministry of Science and Technology, the technology gap between South Korea and the United States is projected to be 2.8 years in 2024, down from 3.2 years [4]. - The gap between China and the United States is estimated at 2.1 years, indicating that South Korea and China are now 0.7 years apart in technology [4]. - In 2022, South Korea was leading in the secondary battery sector by 0.9 years, but by 2024, China is expected to take the lead with a 0.2-year advantage over South Korea [4].